Top 10 SPU moments of 2011-2012
By DANNY CIACCIO, Sports Writer
Published: May 30, 2012
Each Seattle Pacific sport continually ranks among the top of its counterparts. In the 2011-2012 school year, there were incredible games, feats and moments from both the individual and team perspectives. Here are the top 10:
10. Men’s novice-four places sixth at Dad Vail
In crew, typically the varsity crews get the majority of the attention. However, the men’s novice-four placed in the top two of every regatta the boat competed in during the regular season.
It was also the only novice team from SPU to qualify for the Dad Vail Regatta on May 12, a national competition held in Pennsylvania. The men’s novice-four placed sixth overall in the grand final race at Dad Vail.
9. Women’s basketball beats No. 8 Alaska Anchorage
After losing to No. 8 Alaska Anchorage by 33 points in their first meeting, the Falcons made sure to not let it happen again. On Feb. 2, the Falcons kept their composure against the conference’s top team and went on to win 67-62.
8. Two top-25 finishers at cross-country West Regionals
On a crisp morning in Spokane, two SPU women cross-country runners earned All-Region awards for placing in the top 25. Seniors Heidi Laabs-Johnson and Natty Plunkett finished No. 12 and No. 23, respectively, as the Falcons placed sixth in a field of 24 teams.
7. Anna Herold breaks volleyball digs records
In the opening round of the NCAA West Region Tournament, SPU faced Brigham Young-Hawaii. The Falcons, who won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title, barely lost the three-game match, but senior libero Anna Herold recorded a school-record 46 digs against the Seasiders.
The two-time All-American already held school records for career digs, most digs in a season and most digs in a game.
6. Sherah Veron places at USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships
Senior Sherah Veron ended her career at Seattle Pacific on the medal stand. Veron earned the bronze medal in the floor exercise at the USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate Championship in Bridgeport, Conn. Veron scored 9.825 on the floor.
5. Scott Morse secures men’s basketball Homecoming win
During the Homecoming game against Western Oregon, SPU trailed by six with less than three minutes left. Junior forward Scott Morse hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with five seconds left, and then converted two clutch free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining. Morse’s final five points led SPU to a 61-58 victory.
4. Women’s soccer goes up against Sounders Women in spring game
The women’s soccer team faced the Seattle Sounders Women in front of a sellout crowd at Starfire Stadium on April 9. The Sounders Women included four U.S. National Team players. Even though SPU lost 5-0, the Falcons were grateful for the chance to play with professionals.
3. Men’s basketball beats Division I Arizona
In a shocking upset, the Falcons defeated Arizona 69-68 in their first preseason game. The Wildcats, a Division I team from the Pac-12 conference, was ranked No. 16 in the country and reached the Elite Eight the year before.
It was the third consecutive win against a Division I opponent for SPU, but it was the first time in school history the Falcons topped a Pac-12 opponent. Transfer junior wing Jobi Wall led SPU with 24 points in his first big performance.
2. Chris Morris scores game-winning goal in men’s soccer first-round game
In the first round of the NCAA West Regional Tournament, the SPU men’s soccer team hosted Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Toros scored a goal with four seconds left in regulation to tie the game. In overtime, freshman Evan Robicheau sent a free kick into the box. Junior midfielder Chris Morris positioned himself and headed the ball over challenging defenders to win the game.
1. Brittany Aanstad wins javelin at track and field nationals
Senior Brittany Aanstad achieved something that no one else at SPU — individual or team — accomplished in 2011-2012: a national championship. She won the javelin event at the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships on May 26. Aanstad was the national leader during the regular season, with a throw of 161 feet, 11 inch, and she came in as the No. 1 seed.
On her fifth of six attempts, Aanstad moved to first place with a throw of 168 feet, one inch. Not only was it a personal record for Aanstad, but it also set a school and conference record.